Howard Reaches Prime Position

Mark Howard wins the 2015 Austbrokers Phillips H’cap.

Mark Howard in his seventh winter season with the Victorian Cross Country League broke through for his first win with a strong 8km run around Lysterfield Lake on Sunday morning. Sparingly raced over those seasons, preferring the shorter 5km events, Mark stepped out of his comfort zone to hit the lead two hundred metres from the finish and raced away to win by a comfortable twelve seconds. Howard also competes on the summer track season with the Victorian Athletic League and has a win in the prestigious Bendigo Black Opal over four hundred metres to his credit. Besides competing himself Mark also coaches a growing band of successful athletes.

Second across the line was the improving Mark Beavis who held a commanding lead as he crossed the dam wall with eight hundred metres to travel, before tiring slightly at the finish. Adina Morrow, another runner to show good improvement this season, held on well for third and showed a win isn’t too far away. Andrew Lane and Gary Hall were next to finish, trailed in by Ian Cayzer. Amazingly the first six across the finish line were all novice runners. Grant Penney, showing a gradual return to his best form, was next in from the fast finishing Matthew Sullivan. Murray Fraser, next week’s sponsor, and Corina Kapusta completed the top ten with Corina also being the fastest of the females. The fastest overall was Matthew Sullivan with a very solid run of 28:40. Matthew held out Cam Clayton for that honour by two seconds.

This week is the time honoured 5km “Family Feud”, this season sponsored by Fraser Murray. Runners please bring a family member or members to make up a team to compete for the Family Feud trophy. The event is a sealed handicap with a start time of 10am.

The following week is the Flack Advisory Classic 6.4km Handicap at Woodvale in Bendigo. Please note that the start time is now 11am and the presentations and BBQ will take place at the race venue.